His contributions helped lead the Knicks to a 54-28 record and the No. 2 seed in the East. He's the third Knick to win Sixth Man honors, following in the footsteps of John Starks (1996-97) and Anthony Mason ('94-95).

Smith had 15 points, five rebounds and a vicious slam in the Knicks' Game 1 victory over the Celtics Saturday afternoon.

"I just wanted to show everybody that I could be a team guy and it's all about the team,'' Smith said at a news conference for the award Monday afternoon.

And this year, I’m casting that ballot in favor of one Earl Joseph Smith III, that ridiculous and gutsy gunner known far better as J.R.

I see six first-tier options in addition to New York’s Smith: the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford, Golden State’s Jarrett Jack, New Orleans’ Ryan Anderson, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Martin, San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili and Utah’s Gordon Hayward. Some are more productive than Smith, some more efficient, and one could argue that some play a bigger role. But Smith has found a relative sweet spot in terms of the function he serves with the Knicks and the productive way he goes about serving it, and in the process has proved to be this season’s most essential sub.

...

Not only is he [Smith] infinitely willing to hunt down and hoist up difficult shots with the clock winding down, but Smith also has amazing range, good handle and a creative flair. He can make something happen when the ball swings his way, and lately he’s been particularly adamant about driving to the hoop whenever possible.

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